KERR, Robert Floyd,
The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume V=I
KERR, Robert Floyd, educator, was born at Sugar Grove, Ind., April 12, 1850;
son of Andrew J. and Nancy (sayers) Kerr; grandson of Samuel and Nancy
(Gwynn) Kerr, of Harrisburg, Ohio, and a descendant of John Kerr of Franklin
County, Pa., who was of Scotoh-Irish ancestry. His father was a farmer and
Robert received his preparatory education in the country school, and was
graduated at Indiana Asbury (De Pauw) university A.B., 1877, A.M., 1880. He
was superintendent of schools for Newton county, Ind., 1878-79, and in 1879
went to Japan, where he was professor of English and mathematics in Too
Gijuku college at Hirosaki, 1879-81. On his return in 1881 he engaged in
business as a civil engineer and in 1885 was appointed professor of political
economy and principal of the preparatory department in Dakota Agricultural
college, then just established. In 1889 he became professor off history and
political science in the State Agricultural college of South Dakota, at
Brookings, S.D. The winter of 1891-92 he spent in Europe studying the
economic and social problems of the capital cities. In addition to his
class-room work he made contributions to current literature in the line of
social science.
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John King
The annal's of Franklin County's prominent men would be conspicously incomplete, were
the deeds and sterling worth of the subject of out sketch omitted. John King, an
epitome of whose eventful life follows, was born in the neighborhood of Morgantown, VA.,
in 1776. His parents were members of the Episcopal Church, and he, too, was confirmed
in that communion before leaving home to enter upon the severe conficts of life. This
occured at a comparativity early age. He first employment away from the paternal roof
was that of a clerk for an iron firm at Antietam, Md. Thence he went to Mount Pleasant,
Penna, where he was associated with a firm in the same business, first as a manager and
afterward as a partner. In this business, his industry, economy and integrity enabled
him to acquire a large estate. He was also a merchant, but for a short time and that
only for the purpose of en abling a friend to become throughly started in the business,
that there exists little necessity for even referring to it. Mr. King was married to
Mary S. Maclay, daughter of Hon. William Maclay of New Fannettsburg, this county. From
this union, which was consummated about the year 1816, sprang four children. His eldest
daughter, Sarah, now deceased, was the wife of J. Ellis Bonhan, a talented member of the
Carlisle Bar, whose untimely death was deeply mourned. His fourth, Emma, still resides
in Chambersburg, the honored relict of the lamented and talented J. McDowell Sharpe,
whose tribute is found in another part of this volume. The second, unmarried, resides
with Mrs. Sharpe. The third, Louisa, died at the age of sixteen. His death occurred
July 8, 1835, at the age of fifty-nine. He estimable widow survived him a number of years. After Mr. King came to Chambersburg, he was a business of sterling merit. For many yearrs he was president of the Chambersburg bank, whose interest he guarded zealously. Self-made, he discharged and concientiously every duty assigned to him in life. Identified with the various business, literary, religious and charitable enterprises of Chambersburg, his adopted town, he bestowed his energies and sympathies freely upon every good word and work. A devoted member of Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, of which he was a ruling elder, he gave literally his means, efforts, prayers, and sympathies for its advancement. He had the confidence of the business community, the respect of his neighbors, and the esteem of all.
Source:History Of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Illustrated 1887, page657
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